Geochemical

Laboratories

Geochemical

The biogeochemistry laboratory at Biosphere 2 is used to study chemical processes in soils and sediments as influenced by flowing water, plants, and microorganisms. The main focus of the lab is to support work in the Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO).

Biogeochemistry laboratory is equipped with all necessary equipment needed to process a large number of samples that LEO is generating (chemical hoods, ovens, centrifuge, autoclave, muffle furnace, source of ultra-pure water, analytical and table top balances, pH and conductivity meter, soil sampling equipment, mortars/pestles and sieves to prepare samples for analyses).

The biogeochemistry laboratory has a range of equipment for liquid and solid phase analysis, including

Shimadzu TOC-L Series Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and nitrogen analyzer equipped with auto-sampler for water samples (TOC-LCSH), and a SSM-5000A unit for analysis of solid samples;

These capabilities allow us determining availability of nutrients to the plants, exudation of a range of compounds by the plants in response to environmental drivers, release and transport of lithogenic elements through the soils, among many other applications. The laboratory also has high-capacity equipment for conducting flow-through column experiments, including a Master Flex peristaltic pump and Teledyne ISCO Foxy 200 automatic sampler/fraction collector.

In addition to supporting LEO and other Biosphere 2 research, we also provide hands on experience and training using many different instruments in the lab for researchers and students interested in soil and water chemistry, and provide state of the art analytical services for other University of Arizona units.